What would your response be to this text?

if i had a mobile i would make sure i am not home

I'm lucky on those occasions. My daughter seems to think I am incompetent and allows me no input on what we are eating. She takes over the kitchen and the shopping so I keep out of her way.

Oreo

It all depends on the age and health of ‘Mum’ doesn’t it?
I think I would text back, ‘all come over for coffee and cake.’
A get together but no hassle.

This! Absolutely.

We have to bear in mind our married children, have mothers-in-law to please as well. It must be so stressful to try to please everyone. Glad we didn’t have all these ‘specially named days’, where and when I was growing up.

Nanatoone

Trouble is that many of us have children who are also mothers and they need to be spoiled on that day too. I don’t expect my children to host me when they are enjoying the day. A meal out is the next best thing in my opinion, although I would be happy to host in reality as I like being in control of the food.

This is it exactly, there are three generations of Mums and Mums-in-law in our family, all in different parts of the UK.

This year we agreed to stay in our own houses! DD and family arrived with a bunch of tulips yesterday, DS and family will come for a visit next week sometime.
At least it isn't DH's birthday as well this year!

My response to the text would be 'great, how many can be here?' and I'd do a bread and cheese grazing buffet - easy way to suit everyone..

LittleAnnie - what a cruel son. I hope you have other children who love you

My mother is quite frail and deaf and struggles in restaurants. So for the last few years, she comes to my house and my AC take over the kitchen and cook a roast dinner . They clear up too.
We’re away for Mother’s Day , so we had an early Mother’s Day on Saturday and had a fish and chip supper with my mum and AC.
But back to op , I’d say how lovely to see you all and suggest a way of making less work for you .

We will be by ourselves in France next weekend. Both children live too far away for us to get together just for one day.

It bothers me not at all. They know that all I like on the day is a card, no flowers or anything else, quite unnecessary.

Thanks for all the comments! Yes the text made us smile. I haven’t replied yet, but will probably suggest afternoon tea rather than dinner and ask one of them to bring a cake - I’ll make a pot of tea. 🙂

As others have said, it's not an unfamiliar situation chez Dog.

I would reply to say how lovely it will be to see them, and roll my sleeves up.

I'm going out for a meal with family because it's my birthday too! I don't like having both the celebrations together because it uses up all the treats in one go.

Well I certainly wouldn’t / will not be doing all the preparation and cooking,
Myself and my 3 DDs will be meeting at youngest DDs house and we will each provide part of a meal.
Two of them are Mums themselves and so like to have their children with them .We are not bothered about going out for a meal. On this day it usually crowded and at home we can relax with the children .
DH and SsIL will visit their own respective mothers, arrangements up to them.

biglouis

One of the advantages of being child free is that you dont get mixed up in this nonsense.

You mention this so often that the quote "The lady doth protest too much, methinks" comes to mind.

biglouis

One of the advantages of being child free is that you dont get mixed up in this nonsense.

You don't have to be child-free to ignore the nonsense. I told my, now adult, daughter when she was still in primary school that she should not waste her pocket money on chocolates, flowers or other tokens and, if she ever wants to declare her love for me, I'd rather she did so then and there and not wait for a special date.
If she did by chance feel an urge to see me on mother's day, her text would read something like: "are you busy on Sunday? If you've no other plans, can I come over with X,y and z and we can all go out to lunch".

Trouble is that many of us have children who are also mothers and they need to be spoiled on that day too. I don’t expect my children to host me when they are enjoying the day. A meal out is the next best thing in my opinion, although I would be happy to host in reality as I like being in control of the food.

My daughter knows full well how very disappointed I'd be to have to cook or go out for lunch! She treats me to a picnic at a long barrow or a pile of ruins

CoolCoco

“ Hi Mum! Its Mothers Day this Sunday. We could come round for dinner at yours and invite the others. Love YDS”

YDS
I'm assuming that means Your Darling Son 😃

"DS, Lovely, I will do a pudding. Please bring starter and mains, plus wine and arrive in plenty of time to cook the meal. Looking forward to seeing you all, love from Mum. ps it's Mothering Sunday. xxx"

It all depends on the age and health of ‘Mum’ doesn’t it?
I think I would text back, ‘all come over for coffee and cake.’
A get together but no hassle.

Germanshepherdsmum

Wouldn’t it be nice just to have them all together?

I agree it is just lovely to have everyone together, and personally, I would hate to be taken out for a 'special Mother's Day lunch with hundreds of others in a restaurant, all ghastly commercialised schmaltz. I would invite them all to mine, arrange an easy lunch with wine and tell my family that I look forward to them buying me lunch another time that suits us all, not part of the shift system of Mother's Day lunch. Oh, and please don't buy me any overpriced flowers this weekend either, leave it for a week or two!

Littleannie

It's better than the text my son sent me last Mother's Day which said 'why don't you die mother. The sooner you're dead the better as nobody will miss you'.

I'm sorry you had to read that! 💐

CoolCoco

“ Hi Mum! Its Mothers Day this Sunday. We could come round for dinner at yours and invite the others. Love YDS”

"Thanks for the update, I assume father is planning with you? How many of you, your father may not be totally aware of silly details?"

Our children plan through their father for me and through me for him. He may not grasp all intricacies to do with babies and food. Normal, imo.

I'm delighted when they are all here at once. Too many for Christmas - nice for a small buffet gathering for something as MD after Church.

I would be delighted that I had been remembered, and that everyone wants to get together.

If you might struggle with cooking for so many, maybe text back - "Brilliant idea - I am looking forward to seeing you all. Could we divi up the courses? - one bring a starter, another a stew and another a pud?"

I know that if my DDs had sent such a message I would be delighted - but I also know they would bring food without being asked. Maybe you have sons!!

It is rather sweet in a way that they want to come back to Mum's place - and that they associate that with being fed and nurtured. I think sometimes our adult children do not realise just how much our energy can be depleted by the passing years.

I hope you have a lovely day!

I'm with Spore If either of my children sent me a message like that sent to LittleAnnie I would just reply. 'if that is how you feel, you will obviously not want to inherit anything from me either. My will is being change to acknowledge that fact.' and I would have changed my will within days.

There is a simple solution AlwaysSmiling . Stop smiling and say 'No'.

Next time, your family plan a party and just turn up or tell you on the day - just say 'NO'. They only take advantage of you because you let them. Do not give a toss for any inconvenience you may be causing them. put it against the myriad times they have inconvenienced you.

When no one would take you to M&S for a New year party, you should either have gone ahead with the party but served neither drink nor food, or you could have cancelled the party..

the solution to your problem is in your own hands.

Mother's day is ridiculous and should be scrapped.